Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1896 — Childhood. [ARTICLE]

Childhood.

Tlte qualities that are the most attractive in childhood are not by any means the most valuable' in maturity. We look for determination, will, decision of character, firmness in the niau, and refuse IjJtp onr respect if IteQizwaUteiu not. But, when the child exhibitsthese qualities, even in their incipient stages, we are annoyed, and perhaps repulsed. ' Instead of rejoicing in his strength of will and guiding it into right channels, we lament, it as a greviouu fault in him and a misfortune to us. It is the meek and yielding child who cares not to decide anything for himself in whom wa delight, and whose feeble will we make still feebler by denying it all exercise. Yet, when he grows up and enters the world and yields to temptation, an l perhaps disgraces himse]| and his family, we look at him in ithbecile'wonder that so good a child should have turned out to be so bad a man, when, in truth, his course has been only the natural outcome of his past life and training.